Sometimes we simply consider ourselves to be part of a team that we really don't belong to. Why do we make assumptions like that? Perhaps we do this because our assumptions meet societal expectations and norms rather than the reality of the situation. Making a reality check can help us to rethink the teams we belong to, our roles on those teams, and the ways that we can strengthen our allegiance to those teams.
What questions help us to conduct that reality check? These questions might help?
How often do you work with this team in positive, uplifting ways?
Think back over time and consider the teamwork the teams you belong to employ. How often is the teamwork on those teams positive and productive? When the work was positive and productive, what was your role and how did you contribute?
What challenges did the team face over time?
Think about the challenges the team faced and how those challenges affected you and the team in general. What role did you play in the challenge? Was the team able to face and solve any challenges in positive, collaborative ways?
Did you retain self respect on this team?
Did the team work for or against your self respect? Was the team a loving, supportive, communicative team or a combative, competitive, resistant team? Sometimes we may give away our self respect simply to be accepted on a team--that's never a good idea.
Do you enjoy being with this team?
As much as possible, it's great to be on teams that you enjoy. Sometimes, however, you may choose to belong to a team that you don't enjoy, but that you value. If the team you belong to is like that, you may reconsider your role on that team in ways that retain your self respect and also continue your membership on that team.
The difficult part of reconsidering the teams you belong to is sticking to the decisions you make once you review and analyze those teams. Your analysis will likely result in a few difficult challenges to meet. These challenges will likely move you to change your ways, and change is rarely easy. It takes effort to make good change, but with good change, our teams will be stronger and better and that's worth it. Onward.